Summer Jam To Feature Basketball, Gospel Music

July 19, 2001|By JUDITH MALVEAUX Daily Press

HAMPTON — It's a party for youth and about youth -- basketball and gospel music are bonuses.

It's the second annual Iiesha Iverson Summer Jam, the program named after the younger sister of Hampton native and pro-basketball star Allen Iverson. It will take place at Aberdeen Elementary School, 1424 Aberdeen Road, on Saturday and Sunday.

Co-organizer Butch Harper said the event began last year because Ann Iverson, mother to Allen and Iiesha, wanted to have an event named after her daughter that was youth-oriented.

Iiesha had been sick as a child, Harper said, but she's doing a lot better now. Because the family has been blessed with Allen's basketball success and health improvements for Iiesha, Harper said, it wants to give something back to children in the community.

A 3-on-3-basketball tournament for 5-to-17-year-olds will be conducted over the two days. Last year, participants got a trophy, a T-shirt, and a Reebok bag and key chain. And all participants were fed, Harper said. There's no entry fee for the tournament.

A gospel music concert will be performed Sunday. The concert will feature several Hampton Roads artists, including John Das and The Voices of Heaven, Divine Voices in Christ and Soldiers of the Cross.

Allen "The Answer" Iverson showed for both days of last year's program and was seen during his recent Celebrity Summer Classic, Harper said, but kids shouldn't come with an expectation to see the player. Instead, he said, they should come to have a good time in the name of Iverson's little sister.

"Hopefully, 'The Answer' will be there," Harper said, "but this is for Iiesha."